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Vanessa Lawrence works from observation and memory in response to the worlds of ballet, opera, circus arts, fashion & film. Her dynamic drawings brim with excitement and drama, evoking worlds of illusion and make believe, all seen with a keen and empathetic female gaze. Her work spotlights the skill and agency of performance artists within her creative community, offering intimate vistas of these inspiring worlds and unfolding rich narratives of mythology & folklore present in performance arts.

 

Her process involves layers of observation in  response to fleeting moments, captured in an attempt to sustain the visceral and sublime. Expressive markings suggest the traces of energy left behind by the performing body and explore the emotional topography performance engenders within us. Her drawings often explore joy as an act of resistance.

 

In an ever increasingly monitored and recorded world, her live drawings offer a counteractive presence. Live drawing sets an intention to capture a fleeting and captivating moment, producing work that feels celebratory, life affirming and brave.

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